The Springboks have taken another injury blow with the news that Jesse Kriel has been ruled out for the rest of the World Cup.

Kriel injured his hamstring after coming off the bench in the Boks’ World Cup opener against the All Blacks in Yokohama. The injury kept him out of the following match against Namibia, which the Boks went on to win 57-3.

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Despite the Springbok coaching staff remaining upbeat about his condition, Kriel was not named in the match-day 23 for the crucial Test against Italy on Friday.

Damian Willemse, who has been on loan with Saracens, will join the squad in Japan on Thursday as Kriel’s replacement.

Kriel is the second Springbok to have been ruled out of the tournament, after prop Trevor Nyakane was replaced in the squad by Thomas du Toit.

Photo: @Springboks Twitter